Peyton Manning Leads Denver Broncos to 31-19 Win over Pittsburgh Steelers

It appears as though the NFL was saving the best for last when it scheduled the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos for Sunday Night Football. 

The offenses got off to slow starts, but Denver and Pittsburgh went back and forth for 45 thrilling minutes of football. In the end, superstar Peyton Manning led his Broncos to an uplifting 31-19 victory.

The defenses ruled supreme in the first quarter. Manning looked confident early in his Denver debut, but the Broncos, hampered by a Willis McGahee fumble, weren't able to get anything out of a couple of promising drives. 

But after Shaun Suisham nailed a field goal to get the scoring started for the Steelers in the second quarter, Manning responded with a clinical 12-play, 80-yard drive in just under five minutes that was capped off by a Knowshon Moreno—yes, he's still playing—seven-yard touchdown run. 

Thus the back-and-forth had begun. 

Pittsburgh answered with a Heath Miller four-yard TD catch to finish Ben Roethlisberger's steady drive in the second quarter. Another Shaun Suisham field goal to start the third made it 13-7 Pittsburgh.

Back came Manning, with a little help from Demaryius Thomas, who is quickly becoming known as the Steeler Killer.

The third-year budding pro took a screen from Manning on the left sideline, then ran really fast for a really long distance. The result was a 71-yard touchdwon and lots of Twitter reaction.

The first comes from ESPN's Trey Wingo, who seems to remember Thomas' game-winning 80-yard score against Pittsburgh in last year's playoffs:

"

and i'm fairly certain the Steelers have seen quite enough of long TD passes to Demaryius Thomas #dejavideo

— trey wingo (@wingoz) September 10, 2012"

Ouch.

Second-of-ly, SportsCenter points out that the long score held even more significance than merely being Manning's first as a Bronco:

"

Peyton Manning's 1st TD pass w/@denver_broncos is No. 400 of his career -- 98 ahead of Tom Brady for most among active QBs.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 10, 2012"

Roethlisberger's fourth drive lasted double-digit plays and ended in a three-yard touchdown strike to Mike Wallace. Pittsburgh quickly retook the lead, 19-14, and effectively put an end to the Mile High celebration.

But then Peyton Manning became Peyton Manning again. The legendary QB led yet another 80-yard drive, which culminated in a touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Tamme. A successful two-point conversion made it 22-19, Denver.

The punch and counter-punch action finally came to an end when a Matt Prater field goal and Tracy Porter interception return for a touchdown sealed it for the Broncos late in the fourth.  

Manning finished with a ridiculously efficient 253 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-26 passing. Demaryius Thomas caught five of those balls for 110 yards and a score.

Roethlisberger had a solid game with 245 yards and two touchdowns, but his night ended on a very sour note. 

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